Mitch's Media Musings - May 2022
Mitch's Media Musings
April 16 - May 15, 2022
4 Questions Journalist Spotlight - Check out our latest interviews with WSB TV's Steve Gehlbach, Fox5's Chris King, GBB's Josephine Bennett, and the Neighbor Newspapers' Elizabeth Nouryeh-Clay. You can watch in video format or listen to audio: https://www.leffsatlantamedia.com/q4-journalists. You can also find our podcasts on just about any podcast platform (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, etc.). We tape new segments every week if you'd like to get your media outlet featured! Email me at mitch@leffassociates.com to set up a taping time.
For journalists, we’ve got a great assortment of sources on a range of topics (more details in the Mitch’s Media Match expert database). If your business has experts they’d like included, let’s connect.
General Sources
After a two year pandemic hiatus, Atlanta’s best geek culture convention, MomoCon, is back bigger and better than ever! More than 40,000 attendees are expected to fill the Georgia World Congress Center Memorial Day Weekend for four days of cosplay, gaming, and music. MomoCon is one of the fastest growing all ages conventions in the country with fans of Japanese anime, American animation, and games coming together. (Contact: Mitch Leff, mitch@leffassociates.com for media credentials.)
Ever dream of taking a private jet for a long weekend? Speedbird, a luxury private air charter based out of Orlando with service to Atlanta and beyond can share luxury travel insights and a look behind the curtain on private aviation. (Contact: Megan Paquin, paquin@postoncommunications.com)
Real estate attorney Dan Weede can discuss the commercial real estate market including the hotel/hospitality business. (Contact: Terri Thornton, terri@territhornton.com)
Business Sources (Contact: Kim Speece, kim@leffassociates.com)
Jobs in the Skilled Trades - Scott Shelar, CEO, Construction Ready. Demand continues to be high for skilled workers in the construction industry. Construction Ready recently expanding its work beyond Georgia, offering new training job training classes for adults and K-12 students.
Inflation and Pricing – Goizueta Business School professors Saloni Vastani and Tom Smith
Ukraine Sanctions - Goizueta professor Ray Hill on the effectiveness of economic sanctions against Russia
Legal Sources
War Crimes - Emory Law professor Laurie Blank is an expert on international law, conflict law, and war crimes. She can talk about related issues as the Ukraine war continues. (Contact: Kim Speece, kim@leffassociates.com)
June marks World Infertility Awareness Month, and with the advancement of technology in fertility testing and treatment, a hot-button issue emerges for many couples when it comes to do with leftover and stored embryos. Jordan Whitaker Kennelly, a family law attorney at Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery, can provide perspective on related legal issues.
COVID Vaccine and Related Issues - Dr. Cecil Bennett with Newnan Family Medicine is available to discuss the latest vaccine issues and trends in the pandemic. (Contact: Mitch Leff, mitch@leffassociates.com)
Atlanta Press Club - If you missed the Atlanta Press Club's debates series with the candidate who'll be on the ballot on May 24, click here find all the debates. Whether you think you know the candidates or not, I strongly encourage you to watch these debates so you can hear what each has to say on key issues.
The AJC reports that several media outlets have launched the "Ethnic Media Collaborative" to "shed light on issues that concern communities of color." The group includes The Atlanta Voice, Mundo Hispanico, and the Georgia Asian Times. Details at link.
General
Atlanta Beltline Radio - Check this out: "A/V Radio is an independent, off-the-grid radio station located in Atlanta and broadcasting globally. This is a freeform, uncensored platform for musicians and DJs to express their unique tastes not readily available in mainstream radio. A/V Radio is a place for people to gather IRL, and online. A common space to celebrate Atlanta’s notably diverse and infamous music scene. Content will be broadcasted from a shipping container on the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail." Link: https://beltline.org/event/a-v-radio/2022-04-16/.
Atlanta Business Chronicle - Stories to check out in the Chronicle this month include Zach Armstrong on VR Theater, Donnell Suggs on hotels and worker shortages, and their annual Pacesetters edition (fastest growing companies in Atlanta).
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rosalind Bentley departs. She's now the interim director of the MFA Narrative Nonfiction Program at UGA.
Congrats to Tia Mitchell who received the 2022 David Lynch Award for Regional Reporting, an honor for DC-based journalists who report for local audiences across the nation. Details: https://tinyurl.com/yxo9jw55
From the AJC: "The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma has named Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Jeremy Redmon a 2022 Ochberg Fellow, an honor that comes with special training for how to report responsibly on violence, conflict and tragedy."
The paper is adding two "Report for America" reporters. The AJC says "Timothy Pratt and Donovan Thomas will be reporting on the long-term effects of the pandemic in Georgia and the state’s health care infrastructure." Details: https://tinyurl.com/yy2py7m4
Atlanta Voice - Craig Allen Brown joins as Print Managing Editor
Clayton Crescent - Publisher Robin Kemp says that her recent cancer surgery went, and that it looks like they got it all. She thanks the Atlanta Press Club, the Clayton Crescent Board of Trust, CNN alumni, and media friends around town for their support.
Check out their new website at https://claytoncrescent.org/.
The Crescent will host a golf tournament on July 22, benefiting the Clayton Crescent, Clayton County's award-winning nonprofit news site. It'll be at Crystal Lake Golf Club (Hampton, GA). For more info, lindacrissey15@gmail.com.
Creative Loafing - Check out their new website at CreativeLoafing.com
Georgia Public Broadcasting - Sophia Gratas joins as a Report for America journalist. She'll be reporting on rural health out of Macon.
NewsNation - Atlanta correspondent Janel Forte has departed the network. They're in the process of adding a new reporter and field producer.
Southwest Gwinnett - We've added this new magazine to our database. It's focused on covering Norcross, Berkeley Lake, Peachtree Corners and Duluth. It's a general interest publication, so look for stories covering entertainment, food, the arts, events, culture, and people. Look for stories in the first issue by John Rush and Arlinda Broady. Link: www.southwestgwinnettmagazine.com.
Project Q announced they're going on hiatus after 14 years. They note "In summer 2021, Founder Matt Hennie accepted an Executive Editor position at a news outlet out of state. We pressed on. Then co-publisher Mike Fleming kept pressing through 12 months (and counting) battling cancer and its treatments." Read for Details.
Q100 - Bert Weiss is heading to Poland to do some relief volunteer work for Ukrainian refugees
WABE
Sierra Reed has been named Director of Podcasting. She's a Georgia State alumna and now leads the station's podcast efforts. She will oversee production of popular WABE podcasts such as Buried Truths, Political Breakfast, and The Brief from WABE; develop new podcast projects tied to Atlanta stories; and shepherd the launch the WABE Podcast Network, a portfolio of episodic audio shows sharing sales and marketing efforts.
WGCL/CBS46
Tracy Green returns to Atlanta as Senior Executive Producer for the station. I know her from her time in 11Alive several years ago, but she's also worked at TEGNA, CNBC, KRDO (Colorado), and lots of other production companies. (She's awesome.)
Former reporter Aiyana Cristal has launched Cristal Clear Communications. She worked most recently at the Black News Channel, which closed down recently.
Patrick Quinn joins as general assignment reporter. He worked previously with KOMO TV and KIRO TV in Seattle.
Madeline Montgomery joins as a general assignment reporter. She's reporter at CBS 12 News in West Palm Beach, anchored and reported in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, and Abilene, Texas.
Former reporter Sabrina Silva is now with WHDH TV in Boston
The station has added newscasts from 9 - 10 a.m., and 3 - 4 p.m. and will soon add a 7 p.m. show (anchored by Trayce Hutchins)
On the morning show, Wake Up Atlanta, Brooks Baptiste moves to the 7 - 9 a.m. hours. Lana Harris joins the station to co-anchor with Brooks. She joins from WCNC in Charlotte, and spent time working in Columbia and Jacksonville.
Reporter Adam Murphy raised more than $70,000 at is "Miracle for Mom" golf tournament.
Summer Jackson has joined as host of Atlanta Plugged In.
WSB Radio
Word on the Street celebrates its one year anniversary and co-host Malanikai wins a Gracie Award!
Program Director Drew Anderssen departs. The AJC's Rodney Ho reports that he "will become brand manager at NewsRadio 1080 KRLD in Dallas and its affiliated Texas State Networks for Audacy." Details.
News Director Chris Camp is retiring. Amanda Moyer will take over as News Director and Jennifer Perry will be Assistant News Director.
WSB TV
Congrats to reporter Matt Johnson and his family. They added two new baby boys!
Congrats to reporter Tyisha Fernandes on the birth of a new baby boy!
Former assignment desk manager Lacey LeCroy is now assignment manager at Law & Crime. L&C is the only 24/7 linear and OTT network offering daily live trial coverage and live expert legal commentary and analysis.
WXIA
Rarione Maniece joins as a general assignment reporter on the morning show. She was most recently with the Black News Channel.
Long-time assignment desk manager Paul Powers has retired
Ashton Packer joins from WGXA in Macon
Former 11Alive meteorologist Tracy Humphrey is now with the ABC affiliate in Sacramento
Andrew Wilson joins as a meteorologist
Atlanta & Company producer Eboni Lemon departs
News from the PR Dept.
Kiara Reynolds-Westry has been named May Chapter Champion, honoring her work on the DE&I Committee over the past year.
Leff & Associates has been working with the Atlanta Press Club on their debate series around the 2022 elections. Look for more debates after the May Primaries.
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